Brace.



PATENTED JAN. 3,-1905.

A. s. MILLER.

BRAOE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 8, 1904.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ALVIN SIDNEY MILLER, OF MONROE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO GODWIN' COTTEN MOORE AND ALLAN SHOLARS, OF

MONROE, LOUISIANA.

BRACE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,370, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed April 8, 1904. Serial No. 202,187.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN SIDNEY MILLER, residing at Monroe, in the parish of Ouachita and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of braces which are more particularly adapted for use in building and bridge construction and the like, wherein it is desired to obtain a brace which will at all times remain in its original shape and form and which will so equalize and distribute the strain on the various cooperating parts in such a manner as to prevent the elongation or warping of the frame.

Generally my invention includes a rectangular frame constructed of suitable material, preferably wooden beams, and united at their ends by a metallic joint member and diagonal cross-braces connecting the end joints with a pair of centrally-disposed rings.

Again, the invention comprises certain novel construction and combination of parts, all of which will be first described in detail and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. '1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the rings. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the ring-engaging bolts. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the end joint members, and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the bolt cooperating therewith.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, 1 designates the brace, which comprises a suitable frame consisting of side beams l and top and bottom beams 1, respectively, having their ends tenoned, as at l", to enter the sockets 2 of the metallic end joints 2, and these joints 2 are preferably constructed of a suitable metallic casting, with the pockets 2 and ears 2 2 cast therewith. The ears 2 2 are apertured, as at 2, to receive the pin 3, which passes through the head i of the bolt members 4, pivotally mounted between the ears 2 2, for a purpose presently explained. The bolts 4:, as before stated, include the head 4, and they also have bolt portions 4, threaded, as at A, to enter the threadedend 5 of the tubular rod-section 5, which rod-section has its opposite end threaded in the opposite direction, as at 5, to receive the threaded shank 6 of the center bolt 6. The central bolt 6 has a head 6 containing a pair of parallellydisposed grooves 6 to receive the inner edge 7 of the rings 7 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The bolt 4 is fulcrumed at each corner joint and is connected with the corresponding central bolt 6 by the tubular rodsection 5, before referred to, by means of which rod-section bolts 4: and 6 are adj ustable toward or from each other by merely turning the tubular rod-section in one direction or another as occasion may require.

In practice when a square corner is desired the tubular sections 5 are screwed up to center the rings 7 and to impart a strain toward the center from each of the corners along the rod-section, which strain being toward the center and in equal opposite directions will neutralize each other.

Each bolt-head 6 as before intimated, is adapted to receive the inner edge of the rings 7, which rings 7 are so disposed relatively to the bolt-head 6 to permit the bolts to extend radially therebetween.

In Fig. 1 the arrows show the direction of the contending forces within the frame when under proper adjustment, showing how they are distributed among and equalized by the different cooperating parts.

From the'foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that my improved brace is nonvibrating and adjustable, and it has a positive center at all times, as well as the fact that the cross-rods are subject to eight equal and contending forces at all times when in use, which will also neutralize each other as to distribute any applied strain throughout the entire structure. Again, it will be seen my invention will readily and economically adapt itself to use Wherever and Whenever a brace may be required, either in house construction, bridge construction, or in any other similar case. It Will also be noticed that the various parts are so interchangeably constructed with respect to each other that should for any reason it be desired to replace one or another of the parts this can be readily and quickly done Without unnecessarily disturbing the other parts, and by making the parts interchangeable the same can be more easily manufactured than other- Wise.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation, advantages, and construction of my invention Will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appcrtains, and I desire it understood that slight changes in the detail arrangement and construction of parts may be made Without departing from the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a brace, including a frame comprising a plurality of beams, socketed corner-joint members for receiving the adjacent ends of the beams, and means for firmly holding said joint members and beams in their correlative positions, said means including bolts having threaded shanks and secured one to each corner-joint member, and means for adjustably connecting said bolt-shanks to each other, said last-named means including a pair of parallelly-disposed rings and radial bolts carried thereby, and means for adjustably connecting said radial bolts With said corner-joint bolts.

2. In a brace, including a frame comprising a plurality of beams, socketed cornerjoint members for receiving the adjacent ends of the beams, and means for firmly holding said joint members and beams in their correlative positions, said means including bolts, pivotally mounted in said joint members, a pair of parallelly-disposed rings, center bolts having heads for holding and engaging said rings, and means for adjustably joining said center bolts to said joint-bolts.

3. In a brace, including a frame comprising a plurality of beams, socketed cornerjoint members for receiving the adjacent ends of the beams, and means for firmly holding said joint members and beams in their correlative positions, said means including bolts having threaded shanks pivotally mounted in said joint members, a pair of parallelly-disposed rings, center bolts having threaded shanks and heads for holding and engaging said rings, tubular pipe connections having internallythreaded ends for cooperating With and adjustably joining the threaded shanks of the joint and center bolts, for the purposes specified.

4:. A brace including a frame comprising a plurality of beams, corner members having sockets and ears, said sockets adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the beams, a bolt member having a threaded shank and a head pivotally mounted between the ears of each corner-joint member, a pair of parallelly-disposed rings, a plurality of center bolts having heads for engaging and holding said rings, and threaded shanks for projecting radially from between said rings one for each cornerjoint member, tubular pipe connections adjustably connecting each of said center bolts to its respective cooperating corner-joint pivoted bolt, for the purposes specified.

ALVIN SIDNEY MILLER.

Witnesses:

W. N. RAMSEY, N. MoGLnNDoN. 

